Today we have a very special picture: a photo of the bird I consider the most beautiful in the world. It’s the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno). Both sexes have a gorgeous metallic emerald-green plumage and red bellies, but the male also sports an orange bill, a crest on the head, and a marvelous long tail, surely the result of sexual selection. I’ve seen male quetzals three times: twice in Guatemala and once in Costa Rica, all in high-altitude rain forest, which is where they live.
This picture was taken recently by Scott Ritchie, a retired medical entomologist who now travels the world taking fantastic pictures of birds. He lives in Cairns, Australia, and I hope to feature more of his photos in the future. Here are his comments about where the picture was taken:
Pic is of a male Resplendent Quetzal coming to the nest hole. You can just make out the head of a chick. It was taken at a hide near this location.They are amazing birds! Darwin wins again.
Note the chick’s head peeping out at the top of the trunk. (Click to enlarge.)
Here is its range (from Wikipedia);
Print that out supersize at your local print shop and frame it!
Wonderful! The “hidden” chick detail is just -[ chef’s kiss ]!
Many thanks mate! I’m Aussie, so mate just rolls off the tongue…and fingers.
Beautiful!!
Beautiful shot! Perfect moment with the tail feathers curling artfully.
I spent half a year with these birds in Mexico, plus a month or two in Costa Rica, and they are really lovely. In those days (40 years ago!) it would have been really hard to take such a picture. Maybe some day I will post some of mine here, but none are dynamic like this one!
Your link goes to a fantastic picture of the oaks of Cerro de la Muerte! I think that is where I saw my first Quetzal too. I bet the accomodations are much better now than when I went. It was soooo cold, along with 100% humidity which sucks the heat from your bones. We stayed at the Hotel Georgina, a rustic place that locked all their doors at night so that no one could escape with the silverware.
If you go looking for them again, consider checking out the northern subspecies (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras). It has a much longer tail and bigger crest than the Costa Rican subspecies!
Yes, that’s where I saw my first quetzal, too! Monteverde in 1973 was indeed cold and primitive, but I hear now that it’s crawling with tourists.
Jerry, the link he shared shows that he wasn’t in Monteverde but in Cerro de la Muerte. Monteverde is a tropical paradise compared to Cerro de la Muerte, an aptly named mountain which means “Mountain of Death”. I can still remember the cold forty years later.
Good stuff, and I appreciate your sentiments! A magic bird!
PS I was at a hide near the Quetzal Lodge
Very cool! That must have been an amazing experience.
What a photo! I used to go to Monte Verde in Costa Rica and watch them and others. Wonderful picture! I’m sure you have been told. LOL
THANKS for taking me back in time.
That may indeed be the world’s most beautiful bird. Also a good example of Spot the Chick!
Wow! Thank you.
De nada.
Beautiful.
A color scheme reminiscent of the Mexican flag. Any connection?